TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the study 1.2 Research problems 1.

3 Purpose of the study 1.4 Limitation of the study 1.5 Significance of the study 1.6 Previous related studies CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Computer-mediated communication 2.2 Politeness 5 6 7 10 5 2 2 3 3 4 1

2.2.1 Politeness rules Robin Lakoff 2.2.2 Politeness principles Geoffrey Leech

2.2.3 Politeness theory Penelope Brown & Stephen Levinson 2.3 Impoliteness 16 20

2.4 Politeness in online communications CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY 3.1 Research method 3.2 Source of the data 3.3 Data 23 23 23 23

3.4 Data collection procedures 3.5 Data analysis procedures 24